Castles & Gardens of Medieval Wales

The dramatic landscapes of north Wales, with their spectacular mountains and lush valleys, are scattered with stately homes, glorious gardens and ancient castles whose imposing fortifications gave protection through times of conflict.

Best Western Hallmark Hotel Chester Llyndir Hall

The Best Western Hallmark Hotel Chester Llyndir Hall is a historic country house hotel located in the verdant Welsh borders just a few miles from Chester. Set in five acres of landscaped gardens, the hotel offers a bar and restaurant as well as leisure facilities including an indoor pool, gym, solarium and sauna. Spa treatments are available at extra cost.

Single Supplements Apply

Hotel Rating

Accommodation in our JG4 category is of a very high standard, offering a wide range of facilities and services. Bedrooms feature a very good quality of furniture, facilities and soft furnishings. Uniformed staff provide a service that reflects attention to detail and quality. Serious attention is paid to food and drink.

Excursion One - Erddig & Chirk CastleSet in a superb formal garden and landscape park, Erddig is an atmospheric early 18th-century house that reflects the ‘upstairs, downstairs’ life of a gentry family and we’re provided with a fascinating insight into the lives of the family and their servants on our private guided tour. The downstairs rooms are home to a unique collection of servants’ portraits, whilst upstairs there is a wealth of important furniture, textiles and wallpaper.

700-year-old Chirk Castle is the last of Edward Longshanks’ magnificent fortresses still inhabited today. The medieval dungeons and tower are relics of more spartan times, while the Long Gallery and State Rooms are sumptuous by comparison. Outside, the award-winning gardens contain clipped yews, herbaceous borders, shrub and rock gardens.

Excursion Two - Plas Newydd, Bodnant Garden & Betws-y-CoedPlas Newydd is a fine country house built on the banks of the Menai Strait. Its most famous past resident is the 1st Marquess of Anglesey, who commanded the cavalry at Waterloo in 1815. The elegant interior owes more to the 1930s, thanks to its associations with the artist, socialite and fallen WW2 soldier Rex Whistler. We delve further into the history of the house on ‘The Magnificent Home of the Marquess’ guided tour.

Next we explore Bodnant Garden, nestled in the Snowdonian foothills. Created over 150 years, this world-famous garden is home to National Collections and Champion Trees and boasts sweeping lawns, grand terraces and verdant woodland.

We also make a short stop in the picturesque village of Betws-y-Coed in the Snowdonia National Park. The backdrop of coniferous forests has earned this area the name ‘Little Switzerland’.

Excursion Three - Powis Castle & Llangollen RailwayBeginning life as a medieval fortress, Powis Castle has been remodelled and embellished into a richly decorated Baroque castle over a period of 400 years. The opulent interiors are home to collections of paintings, sculpture, furniture and tapestries added to by successive generations of the Herbert family. Outside, the world-famous garden is overhung with enormous clipped yew trees sheltering an array of rare plants.

We take a trip into yesteryear as we board the Llangollen Railway in the picturesque village of Carrog. Our scenic heritage rail journey winds through the Dee Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, before finishing in the pretty market town of Llangollen, situated on the River Dee.

Please note: The journey on the Llangollen Railway may not be steam hauled. The railway also runs diesel locomotive trains.

Take advantage of our brand new, stress free departure option of "Club Class Home Collection Service". With this luxury service, a uniformed chauffeur will collect you from home and transfer you to the hotel, airport or cruise port in top specification cars or MPV's then at the end of your holiday they will be waiting to whisk you home again.

Please note: On some journeys we may collect other customers en-route who are travelling on the same holiday as yourself. The maximum number of pickups would be your plus two more with a maximum of six people in the vehicle. Journeys over 2.5 hours will include comfort breaks and complimentary bottles water is provided. All vehicles are fitted with satellite navigation and tracking devices. Service available from addresses in mainland England only, one pickup per booking. Service operating in partnership with Club Class Chauffeurs.

Excursion One - Erddig & Chirk CastleSet in a superb formal garden and landscape park, Erddig is an atmospheric early 18th-century house that reflects the ‘upstairs, downstairs’ life of a gentry family and we’re provided with a fascinating insight into the lives of the family and their servants on our private guided tour. The downstairs rooms are home to a unique collection of servants’ portraits, whilst upstairs there is a wealth of important furniture, textiles and wallpaper.

700-year-old Chirk Castle is the last of Edward Longshanks’ magnificent fortresses still inhabited today. The medieval dungeons and tower are relics of more spartan times, while the Long Gallery and State Rooms are sumptuous by comparison. Outside, the award-winning gardens contain clipped yews, herbaceous borders, shrub and rock gardens.

Excursion Two - Plas Newydd, Bodnant Garden & Betws-y-CoedPlas Newydd is a fine country house built on the banks of the Menai Strait. Its most famous past resident is the 1st Marquess of Anglesey, who commanded the cavalry at Waterloo in 1815. The elegant interior owes more to the 1930s, thanks to its associations with the artist, socialite and fallen WW2 soldier Rex Whistler. We delve further into the history of the house on ‘The Magnificent Home of the Marquess’ guided tour.

Next we explore Bodnant Garden, nestled in the Snowdonian foothills. Created over 150 years, this world-famous garden is home to National Collections and Champion Trees and boasts sweeping lawns, grand terraces and verdant woodland.

We also make a short stop in the picturesque village of Betws-y-Coed in the Snowdonia National Park. The backdrop of coniferous forests has earned this area the name ‘Little Switzerland’.

Excursion Three - Powis Castle & Llangollen RailwayBeginning life as a medieval fortress, Powis Castle has been remodelled and embellished into a richly decorated Baroque castle over a period of 400 years. The opulent interiors are home to collections of paintings, sculpture, furniture and tapestries added to by successive generations of the Herbert family. Outside, the world-famous garden is overhung with enormous clipped yew trees sheltering an array of rare plants.

We take a trip into yesteryear as we board the Llangollen Railway in the picturesque village of Carrog. Our scenic heritage rail journey winds through the Dee Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, before finishing in the pretty market town of Llangollen, situated on the River Dee.

Please note: The journey on the Llangollen Railway may not be steam hauled. The railway also runs diesel locomotive trains.

Take advantage of our brand new, stress free departure option of "Club Class Home Collection Service". With this luxury service, a uniformed chauffeur will collect you from home and transfer you to the hotel, airport or cruise port in top specification cars or MPV's then at the end of your holiday they will be waiting to whisk you home again.

Please note: On some journeys we may collect other customers en-route who are travelling on the same holiday as yourself. The maximum number of pickups would be your plus two more with a maximum of six people in the vehicle. Journeys over 2.5 hours will include comfort breaks and complimentary bottles water is provided. All vehicles are fitted with satellite navigation and tracking devices. Service available from addresses in mainland England only, one pickup per booking. Service operating in partnership with Club Class Chauffeurs.